Gearing



April 15 1924. i,490,56l Y J. F. eussms GEARING Filed May 14. 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 15 1924. 1,499,551 J. F. GUBBINS GEARING Filed May 14, 1918 a Sheets-Sheet 2 April 15 1 9.

J. F. GUBBINS GEARING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14 l9l8 PLlllll ll iii;

Fatented Apr. 155, 1924i,

STATES JOHN F. GUBBINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS.

GEARING.

Application filed. May 14, 1918.

To 6472 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. (income, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing ma chines, and its purpose is to provide a machine having a vessel or tank for containing the clothes, in combination with improved means for actuating the vesseh The principal. object of the invention is to provide improved driving mechanism for imparting reciprocatory movements to the vessel for containing the clothes. A further important object is to provide, in combination with the driving mechanism, means for holding the vessel in fixed position when the same is disconnected from the driving mechanism. Still another feature relates to the improved construction and arrangement of the mechanism, and to improved means for mounting the same. The invention comprises improved means for mounting and adjusting the position of the driving motor, and embodies also novel meansfor positioning the machine so that the tilting thereof is prevented, even though the floor or other support of the machine is uneven. The clothes-containing tank or vessel of the machine compriscs improved means for imparting a natural rubbing action to the clothes when the vessel is oscillated. A further object is to provide driving mechanism for actuating the clothes-containing vessel, in combination with mechanism for driving a wringer. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be under stood from the following specification, taxen in connection with the accompanying drawings. in which one embodiment is illustrated.

in tho drawings- Figure l is an end view of my improved washing machine, with a part of the hous iug tor the driving mechanism removed;

Fig. 2 a detail side elevation of the lower end of one of the legs of the rhino. showing the mounting of my improvwl positioning member;

Serial No. 234,411.

Fig. 3 shows an elevation of one of the end frames, looking toward the inner side thereof;

Fig. at shows a vertical sectional view through the tank or clothes-containing ves' Sel;

Fig. 5 shows a detail View of the central portion of one of the brackets attached to the ends of the tank;

Fig. 6 shows a top plan view of the adjustable supporting device for the driving motor;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 shows horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the cam and crank by which the driving connection for the vessel is interrupted, showing the cam in a position for establishing the connection and permitting free movement of the vessel; and

Fig. ll. is :1 detail view of the parts illus trated in Fig. 10, showing the position of the cam and crank arm when the driving mechanism is disconnected and the vessel looked in fixed position.

My improved machine comprises a clothes-containing tank or vessel mounted between end frames 16, each of which is preferably formed as an integral construction of metal, having legs 17. These legs carry at their lower ends rollers 18, adapted to rest upon the floor or other support 19. The end frames are secured together and spaced apart by longitudinally extending frame members 20.

The tank 15 is formed, preferably. of sheet metal, and is somewhat elliptical in cross section, being provided with oppositely disposed convex side walls 15", an upwardly curved lower wall 15 and parallel end walls 15. An aperture 21 is provided in the upper wall to permit the insertion and removal of the clothes and washing fluid, and this opening is normally closed by a removable cover. The inner surfaces of the side walls 15" are provided with one or more longitudinally extending projections 22 which are substantially triangular in cross section, similar longitudinally-extending projections 23 are pro.

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vided on the upper side of the lower curved wall 15 These projections form sharp ribs on the inner walls of the tank, so that when the vessel is oscillated about its pivotal axis, in the manner hereinafter described, the clothes are caused to rub on these projections, and are thereby cleansed. It will be noted that the uppermost part of the lower wall 15 is located substantially midway between the pivotal axis of the tank and the plane of the lows most parts of the depressions 24 at opposite sides of the lower wall. This construction has been found to be very advantageous, since the clothes slide over the lower wall 15 and over the projections 23 from one of the depressions 24 to the other as the vessel is tilted about its axis.

Composite metal brackets are secured to the end wall of the tank, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, each bracket comprising an oblong frame member located centrally of the end wall and upwardly extending arms 25 terminating at the opposite corners of the opening 21. The brackets 25 serve as supporting means for the vessel 15, and are provided at their middle points with vertically extending rectangular projections 26. The projection at one end of the tank is adapted to engage a vertically extending slot 27 formed in the enlarged end 28 of a supporting shaft, or load shaft, 28, which is .journalled in a bearing 29 carried by one of the end frames 16. The projection 26 carried by the opposite end of the tank is mounted in a similar manner upon a stub shaft rotatably mounted in the other end frame. By means of this construction the tank or vessel. is detachably mounted on its supporting shafts, and may be removed therefrom when desired. The load shaft 28 is provided, between the bearing 29 and the tank, with a semi-circular projection 30, the oppositely disposed lower surfaces 3O of which are adapted to engage a pin 31 carried by the end frame beneath the shaft after the tank has been tilted about its axis. The pin thus limits the movement of the vessel in either direction.

The load shaft 28 is driven, through intermediate driving mechanism, from an elec tric motor, or the like, 35, which is mounted beneath the vessel 15 on a supporting frame comprising ,two angle iron members 36, connected at their ends to the longitudinally extending frame members 20. The motor is attached by bolts 87 to a plate 38, which is slidably mounted on the members 36, being provided on its under side with hooked projections 39 which extend under the members '36, and thus prevent upward movement of the plate. The position of the plate 38 is adjusted by means of a rod 40, having a handle 40. This rod engages a longitudinal groove 41 in a member 41 attached to the plate 38, and is provided with an integral surface of the plate, and is engaged by a washer 42 and a cap screw 42. The lug 41" stands slightly below the lower surface of the plate, and is engaged by a washer 42 and a cap screw 42. The rod 40 is further provided with notches 40" adapted to engage the angle iron member 43, secured to the members 36. A coil spring 44 is mounted on the rod 40 between the member 41 and the annular shoulder 40 This spring Controls the movement of the lug 41 and the slot 41, and normally maintains an engagement between the member 43 and one of the notches. The support for the motor mounted in an inclined position, so that the plate 38 tends normally to move downwardly by gravity supplemented by the spring 44 and maintain the driving belt in a taut condition. The spring 44 permits the plate to slide upwardly during the operation of the motor, and when it is desired to readjust the position of the motor the rod 40 may be elevated and adjusted, due to the limited movement thereof, which is permitted by the lug 41".

The driving belt 45, extending from the motor 35, is passed around a pulley 46 located between the end frame 16 and the tank 15, and secured to the projecting end of a shaft 47 which is journalled in bearings carried by the walls of the housing 50 forming a part of the end frame. The outer portion 50 of this housing is removable, and is preferably provided, at an intermediate part thereof, with a removable cover plate 50 A pinion 51 is fixed on the shaft 47 within the housing, and meshes with a gear 52. This gear is secured by a key 53 on a crank shaft 54, which is journalled in bearings 55 carried by the housing. The crankarm 54 of the crank shaft has pivotally mounted thereon a connecting rod 55, the other end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 56 with a driving member 57, having the lower end thereof journa-lled on a shaft 58 secured in suitable apertures in the bosses 59 formed in the lower part of the housing 50. The driving member 57 is adapted to be connected with a driven member 60, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 58 adjacent the member 57. The upper end of the driven member 60 carries a gear segment 61, which is adapted to mesh with the teeth of a gear 62 fixed on the inner end of the load shaft 28, previously described.

The driving connection between the pivot ed member 57 and the driving member 60 is effected by the operation of a lever 64, which is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 65 extending through the flanges 66 formed on the wall of the housing. The lever 64 extends horizontally across the end of the machine within the housing, and is offset upwardly and outwardly adjacent the member 57. This offset portion is provided with an arcuate slot 67 adapted to be loosely engaged by a pin 68, which has annular flanges 68 located on opposite sides of the lever 64, so that the removal of the pin from the slot is normally prevented. The slot 67 is provided at one end, however, with an enlarged portion 67 which permits the removal of the pin upon abnormal movement thereof longitudinally of the lever. This pin 68 extends through an aperture 69, which is provided in the upper part of the member 57. When the members 57 and are in proper relative positions, the aperture 69 is adapted to register with an aperture 70 formed in the member 60, so that the driving and driven members may be rigidly connected by causing the pin 68 to engage the alining apertures. The inner end of the pin is slightly tapered, as illustrated in Fig. 7, to permit ready engagement thereof with the aperture 7 O. The movement of the pin to connect and disconnect the members 57 and 60 is effected through the pivotal movement of the lever 64 about the pin 65, and this pivotal movement is in turn accomplished by the operation of a cam 71 mounted on a shaft 72. This shaft is journalled in a bearing 73 carried by the end wall of the housing, and a crank handle 74, secured to the end of the shaft on the outer side of the housing, permits the operation of the cam. This cam consists of a substantially semi-circular plate having a projection 71 extending therefrom substantially parallel to the plane of the lever 64. The lever is held in engagement with the projection 71 of the cam through the operation of a coil spring 75, which is connected to a depending arm 64, carried by the lever, and to the inner wall of the housing, as shown at 76. When the crank arm 74 is in its normal lower position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10, the spring 75 maintains the lever 64 in its inner position, wherein the pin 68 operates to connect the members 57 and 60. When the crank arm is rotated to the upper position, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the projection 71" operates to move the lever 64 outwardly, and thus disconnect the members 57 and 60.

When the member 57 is disconnected from the driven member 60, the tank or vessel is simultaneously locked against tilting by the operation of the cam 71, the peripheral surface 71 of which is adapted to coact with the transverse projection 78 carried by the latch 79, which extends through the end wall of the housing and is pivoted on the frame at 80. The extremity 79*- of this latch is adapted to engage a notch 81 formed in the upper side of the arm 82 carried by and formed integral with the driven member 60. The arrangement of the cam 71 is such that upon movement of the crank arm 74to move the lever 64 outwardly, the latch 79 is simultaneously lowered, so that the extremity thereof engages the notch 81, and thus holds the driven member 60 and the shaft 28 against movement. When the crank arm 74 is in its normal lowermost position, as illustrated in Fig. ,10, the projection 78 rests upon the curved surface of the cam, and thus holds the latch 79 out of engagement with the arm 82 of the driven member 60. By means of this construction the tilting of the vessel is prevented. while the driving mechanism is disconnected therefrom, and at the same time the driven member 60 is held in fixed position, so that upon the reverse movement of the crank 74 the pin 68 is automatically moved inwardly at the instant when the apertures 69 and 70 are in alinement with each other.

The gear 52, mounted on the crank shaft 54, has secured thereto, or formed integrally therewith, a bevel gear 85, which is adapted to mesh with another bevel gear 86 mounted within the housing on the lower endof a vertically extending shaft 87, which is journalled in a bearing 88 carried by the upper part of the housing. The shaft 87 extends upwardly into a bearing 89 carried at the upper ends of. the supporting arms 90,

which are formed integrally with the end frame 16. A wringer frame 91 has a part rotatably engaging the bearing member 89, and is adapted to be swung thereon into a position over the tank 15. The wringer may be secured in any desired position by means of a clamp operated by the handle 92. The shaft 87 extends into a housing 93, carried by the wringer frame 91, and is connected to suitable reversing mechanism within the housing. This reversing mechanism is operated by a handle 94, and permits a driving connection to be formed between the shaft 87 and the horizontal shaft 95 which is connected by tongue and groove con nections, as shown at 96, with the main shaft 97 of the clothes wringer 98. The wringer may thus be driven through the driving mechanism by which the tank 15 is actuated, and the novel arrangement of the mechanism permits the wringer to be driven continuously when the crank arm 74 has been operated to disconnect the driving member 57 from the member 60 which actuates the tank. When the members 57 and 60 are disconnected the latch 79 is simultane ously operated to lock the member 60 in fixed position, and the parts are preferably so arranged that the member 60 is held in a position corresponding to a horizontal position of the tank 15. The tank is thus automatically positioned in the proper manner to permit the insertion or withdrawal of clothes at the same time that the oscillation thereof is arrested. The novel arrangement of the driving mechanism above described then permits the use of the wringer while the tank is held in a horizontal position.

A further important feature of the invention is the provision of means for positioning the frame of the washing machine upon the supporting floor 19. It is well known that the floors and their supports are uneven, so that machines temporarily mounted thereon have a tendency to tilt about two of the supporting legs, unless means be provided for adjusting the legs to the uneven contour of the floor. I therefore mount positioning members 100 upon two of the legs 17, these positioning members each comprising a bearing portion 101, which is journailed upon a pin 102 fixed in a leg 17. The member 100 comprises an arm 103 adapted to engage the surfare of the floor, and another arm 104 which is offset transversely to occupy a position opposite the leg 17. A set screw 105, engaging the arm 104, is adapted to coact with the leg, and thus permit the positioning member to be rotated about the pin 102 until the part 103 engages the surface of the floor with sufiicient pressure to hold the machine firmly against tilting. When it is found that the use of the member 100 is unnecessary, it may be tilted to an inoperative position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it is automatically held, due to the fact that the central aperture, which is engaged by the pin 102, has a lateral enlargement 106 which is engaged by the pin when the member 100 is inverted, and which automatically holds the member in inverted position.

Although I have shown and described a single embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it can be embodied in various different forms without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim z- 1. In a washing machine, a clothes receiving vessel, a load shaft connected to said vessel, a pinion connected to said shaft, a pivotally mounted geared sector engaging said pinion, a driving member movable-in a path parallel to the movement of said geared sector, means for continuously operating said driving member, a pin slidably mounted on said driving member, said geared sector having an aperture to be engaged by said pin, a pivoted lever having a slot engaged by said pin, and means for operating said lever to move said pin into and out of engagement with said aperture.

2. In a washing machine, a clothes receiving vessel, a load shaft connected to said vessel, a pinion connected to said shaft, a pivotally mounted geared sector engaging said pinion, a driving member movable in a path parallel to the movement of said geared sector, means for continuously operating said driving member, a pin slidably mounted on said driving member, said geared sector having an aperture to be engaged by said pin, a pivoted lever having a slot engaged by said pin, means for operating said lever to move said pin into and out of engagement with said aperture, and means operated by said last named means for locking said geared sector against movement during the disengagement of said pin.

8. In a washing machine, a vertically extending end frame, a load shaft journaled in said frame, a clothes receiving vessel carried by said loadshaft, a pinion mounted onsaid load shaft, a geared sector pivoted on said frame and meshing with said pinion, a driving arm pivoted on said frame to move in a path parallel to said geared sector, driving means for continuously reciprocating said driving arm, a lever pivoted on said frame and extending parall'el to the path of travel of said arm, said lever being provided with a longitudinal slot, a pin slidably mounted in said arm and arranged to travel in said slot during the movlement of said arm, said geared sector having an aperture adapted to be engaged by said pin, said pin having a part overlapping the walls of said slot, and means engaging said lever to move the same about its pivot and thereby disengage said pin from said aperture.

4. In a washing machine, a vertically extending end frame, a load shaft journaled in said frame, a clothes receiving vessel carried by said load shaft, a pinion mounted on said load shaft, a geared sector pivoted on said frame and meshing with said pinion, a driving arm pivoted on said frame to move in a path parallel to said geared sector, driving means for continuously reciprocating said driving arm, lever pivoted on said frame and extending parallel to the path of travel of said arm, said lever being provided with a longitudinal slot, a pin slidably mounted in said arm and arranged to travel in said slot during the movement of said arm. said geared sector having an aperture adapted to be en-' gaged by said pin. said pin having a part overlapping the Walls of said slot, a notched member extending from said geared sector. a locking member adapted to engage said notched member and thereby hold said notched member in a stationary position, and means for simultaneously moving said locking member and said lever.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a clothes-receiving vessel. pivotally mounted on said frame, a movable member mounted on said frame, means for continuously driving said movable member, a

second movable member mounted adjacent said first-named member and operatively connected to said vessel to actuate the same, said second-named movable member having an ape 'ture therethrough, a pin mounted on said first-named movable member and adapted to engage said aperture, means for moving said pin into and out of engagement with said aperture, and means for automatically holding said vessel stationary when said pin is moved from engaging position with said aperture.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a clothes-receiving vessel pivotally mounted on said. frame, a movable member mounted on said frame, means for continuously driving said movable member, a second movable member mounted adjacent said first-named member and operatively connected to said vessel to actuate the same, a pin adapted to connect said movable members, a lever by which said pin is carried, a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft for operating said lever, and means for actuating said shaft.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a clothes-receiving vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, a movable member mounted on said frame, means for continuously driving said movable member, a second movable member mounted adjacent said first-named member and operatively connected to said vessel to actuate the same, a pin adapted to connect said movable memhere, a lever by which said pin is carried, a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft for operating said lever, means for engaging and holding said second-named movable memher when said first-named movable memher is disconnected therefrom, means actuated by said shaft for operating said lastnamed means, and means for actuating said shaft.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a load shaft journalled in said frame, a vessel actuated by said load shaft, a crank shaft journalled in said frame, a power-transmitting member pivotally mounted on said frame, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said power-transmitting member and to said crank shaft, a pivotally mounted member operatively connected. with said load shaft, means for conneoting said last-named pivotally mounted member with said power-transmitting member, means for operating said last-named means, and means for holding said load shaft against rotation when said last-named means is not in operation.

9.1n apparatus of the class described, a frame, a load shaft journalled in said frame, a vessel actuated by said load shaft, a crank shaft journalled in said frame, a power-transmitting member p i v ot a l l y mounted on said frame, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said power-transmitting member and to said crank shaft, a driven member operatively connected to said load shaft and pivotally mounted on said frame, means for connecting said driven member with said transmitting member, means for holding said vessel against move ment when said driven member is not in operation, and means for simultaneously operating said holding means and said connecting means.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a load shaft journalled in said frame, a vessel actuated by said load shaft, a crank shaft journalled in said frame, a power-transmitting member p i v o t a ll y mounted on said frame, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said power-transmitting member and crank shaft, means for drivin said crank shaft, a driven member operat1vely connected to said load shaft and pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent said power-transmitting member, said driven member and power-transmitting member having apertures therethrough, a pin adapted to engage said apertures, a lever pivoted on said frame and connected to said pin, means for operating said lever to connect and disconnect said power-trans- .mitting member and said driven member,

a pivotally mounted latch, a notched member carried by said driven member, and means actuated when said lever is actuated for moving said latch into and out of engagement with said notched member.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

JUHN F. G-UBBINS. 

